WHILE Andrew Hall, Worcestershire’s South African import, was helping to skittle England at Lord’s, a silver lining was glinting for David Leatherdale. Playing his third championship match of the season thanks to Hall’s eleventh-hour call-up, the 35-year-old struck a vital half-century on a day when 38 overs were lost, shared a sixth-wicket stand of 101 with Gareth Batty — and still got to dinner on time.

Leatherdale, in his benefit year, spent the morning arranging a helicopter flight to